Biography of Regional Administrator

Grace A. Kilbane was appointed Regional Administrator for the Employment and Training Administration's Region I in June, 2006. In this position, she is responsible for
oversight of the federal investments made in employment and training programs in the 8 states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont, as well as the territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Grace has served in many key executive positions in the Employment and Training Administration (ETA). At the national level, Grace has served as Administrator of most of ETA's programs including: the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) training programs for adults, youth and dislocated workers; Job Corps; the unemployment insurance program; the employment service; the trade act; labor market information; electronic tools; and foreign labor programs. A few highlights of her many accomplishments include: leading the implementation of the One-Stop Career Center system as its first National Director; leading the development of a new Youth vision; commencing the process of connecting vocational training in Job Corps to industry-required credentials for youth; enabling the innovation for states to take unemployment claims over the internet; implementing temporary extended unemployment compensation and the $8 billion Reed Act distribution to states in response to 911; and, leading the rulemaking and implementation of new temporary worker programs including the H-1B visa for high-skilled workers.

Grace began her career with the Department in 1988 as the Regional Administrator for ETA in Kansas City. Prior to joining ETA, she served as Deputy Administrator and Acting Administrator of the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services for almost six years. She also has more than eight years experience directing programs at the city and county levels of government. A native of Cleveland, she possesses a Law Degree and a Master of Science Degree in Urban Studies.